SOI East conducts change of command

The School of Infantry’s colors were passed from the outgoing to incoming commanding officers symbolizing the passing of command during a ceremony this week.

THOMAS BRENNAN - Daily News Staff

The School of Infantry’s colors were passed from the outgoing to incoming commanding officers symbolizing the passing of command during a ceremony this week.

“I love this place,” said outgoing commanding officer Col. Barry J. Fitzpatrick Jr. “Being at this place was awesome … Being on this team has been awesome.”

Base and city officials, Marines and sailors were present for the School of Infantry East change of command ceremony on Thursday morning where Fitzpatrick relinquished command to Col. Jeffrey T. Connor. The School of Infantry is responsible for training Marines from the ranks of private to staff sergeant in basic and advanced infantry skills.

“There have been a lot of accomplishments here, and I don’t hold them on my own shoulders,” Fitzpatrick said after the ceremony. “I just hope I was able to assist those projects and initiatives so that we could do great things for the Marine Corps.”

One of the programs Fitzpatrick spearheaded was the post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury support network throughout the schools command.

“We found a lot of Marines were dealing with some problems,” Fitzpatrick said. “Most importantly we were able to get them sent back into the fight of being an instructor.”

With the program, instructors can go seek treatment and come back to work each day, said Fitzpatrick.

“It was about taking care of Marines,” Fitzpatrick said. “And the most important thing we had was the senior enlisted buying in.”

For Connor, becoming the new commanding officer of SOI-East is an exciting time, he said.

“I am most excited about the opportunity to be part of this team of great Marines, sailors and families that are responsible for producing young Marines,” he said. “Everyone from the command on down are doing a fantastic job across the wide spectrum of training.

“I plan on sustaining the great work that is already being done here.”